SLS 19RS-1275 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 81
BY SENATOR ALLAIN
POSTSECONDARY ED. Requests the Board of Regents to create the Postsecondary
Education Agriculture Technology Study Commission.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To urge and request the Board of Regents to create the "Postsecondary Education
3 Agriculture Technology Study Commission".
4 WHEREAS, the agriculture and forestry industry contributes an estimated ten billion
5 dollars annually to the economy of the state of Louisiana; and
6 WHEREAS, the agricultural industry is dependent upon highly specialized training
7 and certifications to ensure the safe and reliable performance of agricultural machinery and
8 equipment needed to harvest and prepare agricultural products for market and thus drive the
9 state's economy; and
10 WHEREAS, the maintenance and repair of agricultural machinery and equipment
11 requires specialized training and certifications to ensure the safe and reliable performance
12 of the equipment and to comply with manufacturer warranty repair requirements; and
13 WHEREAS, technological improvements in precision agriculture and land grading
14 require additional training for producers as a means to improve production and the ability
15 to compete at the national level; and
16 WHEREAS, our postsecondary education institutions are key partners in the training
17 of citizens to fill equipment maintenance and repair jobs and to create innovations and
18 opportunities for growth within this industry sector; and
Page 1 of 3 SCR NO. 81
SLS 19RS-1275 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, our postsecondary education institutions have industry partnerships that
2 should be leveraged to ensure that training opportunities are aligned with industry needs,
3 technical specifications, and emerging technologies.
4 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
5 urge and request the Board of Regents to create the "Postsecondary Education Agriculture
6 Technology Study Commission" to be composed of fourteen members as follows:
7 (1) The president of the University of Louisiana System or his designee.
8 (2) The Louisiana State University vice president for Agriculture or his designee.
9 (3) The chancellor of the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension
10 Center or his designee.
11 (4) The president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System or his
12 designee.
13 (5) The president of Nicholls State University or his designee.
14 (6) The chancellor of Fletcher Technical Community College or his designee.
15 (7) Four persons appointed by the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, representing
16 the major agriculture commodity groups.
17 (8) The president of Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation or his designee.
18 (9) Two persons appointed by the Deep Southern Equipment Dealers Association.
19 (10) The State Director of United States Department of Agriculture Rural
20 Development in Louisiana or his designee.
21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall hold its organizational
22 meeting not later than August 15, 2019. The commission shall elect a chairman and other
23 officers as deemed necessary.
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the study commission shall
25 serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for expenses by the respective
26 appointing organization.
27 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall study and make
28 recommendations regarding the needs and opportunities related to the creation of an
29 Agriculture Technology Training Program, including program budgetary needs, curricula,
30 implementation timeline, cross-system collaboration, and any other items the study
Page 2 of 3 SCR NO. 81
SLS 19RS-1275 ORIGINAL
1 commission deems necessary for the successful implementation of an Agriculture
2 Technology Program.
3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study commission shall submit a written
4 report to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural
5 Development, the Senate Committee on Education, the House Committee on Agriculture,
6 Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development, and the House Committee on Education no
7 later than March 1, 2020.
8 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
9 chairman of the Board of Regents and the commissioner of higher education.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jeanne C. Johnston.
DIGEST
SCR 81 Original 2019 Regular Session Allain
Requests the Board of Regents to create the Postsecondary Education Agriculture
Technology Study Commission.
Page 3 of 3